Community Briefs

Barn Quilt Workshops return to fairgrounds

Stephens County Oklahoma Home and Community Education (OHCE) will host BARN QUILT Painting Workshops by Brenda Gandy, OSU Extension Educator. Workshops will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30, in the Heritage Room of the Stephens County Fairgrounds Expo Center. Registration is open to the public. You can choose either day. A barn quilt is a quilt pattern painted on an outdoor sign board and hung on an outside structure. Barn Quilts may be hung anywhere - public buildings, businesses, schools, garages, houses/porches, garden sheds, fences, as freestanding signs, on gates, hanging from a mailbox, or on barns and outbuildings.

The size will be 24" x 24" and a variety of patterns will be available - or you can design your own. OHCE will provide all painting supplies (wood, paints, brushes and patterns). There is a cost to attend. These are one-day workshops and participants select the date they want to attend. Registration must be paid in advance and Gandy said you should reserve your spot now.

Register in person or by mail at the OSU Extension Office, 2002 S. 13[th] in Duncan. Participants should select either the Friday or Saturday workshop. If you have questions, call Gandy, Extension Educator, 580-255-0510.

OHCE is hosting a kitchen shower

The Oklahoma Home and Community Education (OHCE) groups of Stephens County are hosting "Shower of Hope" 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 10. The event is a come and go invitation to tour the newly-remodeled Hope Center (Christian Helping Hands) in Comanche and also an opportunity to help stock the kitchen. It is in need of supplies. The building will be used for many purposes, including education classes, cooking classes and more for the individuals and families in the area. For more information, contact Sheila DeCarlo, 580-641-3309. The Hope Center is located at 1008 S. 8[th] St., Comanche.

Southwest Pride Barbershop celebrates 60 years

It's the 60th year for the Southwest Pride Barbershop Chorus show. "The Great Barbershop Bake-Off" features six decades of comedic skits, songs and four-part harmony. The two shows will be 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 22, and 2 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at McMahon Auditorium in Lawton. The show spent many years in Duncan, but because of production costs, had to eliminate the Duncan show. The Saturday matinee makes for a viable option for those who don't like to get out at night and for those with children, said Neil West.

This year's show is acapella singing, saluting some of their favorite performances. It's packed with parodies of both old-school barbershop songs, plus incorporates modern pop tunes with barbershop arrangements. The Great Barbershop Bake-Off is just half of the show and is roughly 45 minutes. The second part of the show features the chorus and several quartets singing favorite pop tunes from the 1960s era. They will be wearing fun 60s fashions and hope to entertain.

The last Chisholm Trail Arts Council concert for the 2023-24 season is Friday, April 5, at the Simmons Center in Duncan. Fire & Rain - Swearingen & Kelli recreate the magic of the 1970s classic folk-anthems. The show is a journey back in time to the memories of a great music era including songs by Jim Croce, James Taylor, Carole King, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens and many more.